Brian Clark, PhD
Assistant Professor, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
Dr. Brian Clark Awarded Prestigious R01 Grant for Groundbreaking Research on Retinal Development
St. Louis, MO – September 11th, 2024 – Washington University School of Medicine is proud to announce that Dr. Brian Clark, PhD, has been awarded his first R01 grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for his pioneering research titled “Regulation of Retinal Development by RNA Molecules.” The five-year grant will commence on September 30th, 2024.
Dr. Clark’s research focuses on understanding the critical role that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play in the development of retinal cells, which form the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye. His study aims to uncover how specific proteins, known as transcription factors, bind to these lncRNAs and how this interaction influences gene regulation in retinal development.
By exploring how lncRNAs guide cellular development in the retina and regulate the behavior of key proteins, Dr. Clark’s research promises to provide valuable insights that may lead to innovative therapeutic strategies for retinal disorders.
About WashU Medicine
WashU Medicine is a global leader in academic medicine, including biomedical research, patient care and educational programs with 2,900 faculty. Its National Institutes of Health (NIH) research funding portfolio is the second largest among U.S. medical schools and has grown 56% in the last seven years. Together with institutional investment, WashU Medicine commits well over $1 billion annually to basic and clinical research innovation and training. Its faculty practice is consistently within the top five in the country, with more than 1,900 faculty physicians practicing at 130 locations and who are also the medical staffs of Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Children’s hospitals of BJC HealthCare. WashU Medicine has a storied history in MD/PhD training, recently dedicated $100 million to scholarships and curriculum renewal for its medical students, and is home to top-notch training programs in every medical subspecialty as well as physical therapy, occupational therapy, and audiology and communications sciences.
For more information about Dr. Clark’s research, NIH, or WashU Medicine, please visit:
Brian Clark, PhD | Clark Lab | WashU Medicine | NIH